Reading Youth Orchestra

A small, friendly community of young musicians based in Reading, Berkshire. One of the oldest youth orchestras in the UK, we're proud to be continuing a long history of providing local students with a place to play great music in a supportive environment every Friday night.

Image shows an orchestra on stage playing a piece

RYO playing the world premiere of Bob Good’s Sinfonietta No. 1 ‘Silver’ in October 2022

Considering joining?

Why our members love RYO

  • Supportive environment – we build each other up
  • Friendly and relaxed – we’re a mini community
  • Exciting repertoire – from Beethoven to James Bond
  • Musical development – improve your skills
  • Creative opportunities – play solos, compositions and arrangements
Find out more

Latest news

Youth orchestra mid-performance, on stage in a large concert hall

RYO 80th Anniversary Concert with Reading Symphony Orchestra

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August 21, 2024

RYO played at Reading's Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra 20th anniversary concerts in October 2022, including 2 world premieres.

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Members of Reading Youth Orchestra celebrating becoming a charity, holding their instruments in the air

RYO becomes a registered charity

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March 8, 2023

RYO is excited to announce becoming a registered charity in March 2023, with thanks to the committee for their hard work getting here.

RYO on stage with Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra players at the family concert in October 2022

RYO plays at APO’s 20th anniversary concerts

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October 30, 2022

RYO played at Reading's Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra 20th anniversary concerts in October 2022, including 2 world premieres.

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Mel receives a Special Mention

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September 14, 2022

Our Music Director, Mel Le Breuilly, has been given a special mention in the Making Music Awards 2022 for Best Music Director

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What our members say about us

Of all the ensembles I have ever been a part of, RYO truly stands out from the pack and is a constant reminder to me of why I love music. The enthusiasm of its leaders, the quality of its music, and the friendliness of its members provides nothing short of an extraordinary setting for not just growth as a musician, but also growth as a person.
Daniel, French Horn
RYO is such an amazing community of like-minded musical people that is inclusive of everyone, and the end of term social, with activities ranging from quizzes to film nights to ice skating, really reflects this. My favourite part of RYO is the concerts because of all the hard work we put into it, and because you can see how far the orchestra has come when the piece comes together.
Pippa, Clarinet
Since joining RYO last year, Friday evenings have been the highlight of my week. Even on Zoom it was clear to tell how enthusiastic everyone was about their instrument, which means that as well as creating some amazing videos, I've made great friends too!
Jennifer, Clarinet

Photo Gallery

Photo of orchestra members lined up holding their instruments, pulling silly poses
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Concert mar19 soloists
christmas social 19